Game



May 8, 1962- R. H. MATHES ETAL GAME Filed Feb.

FIG.3

FIG?

INVENTORS Robert H. Ma1hes y Alexander J. Hiller ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,033,570 GAME Robert H. Mathes, Washington, D.C., and Alexander J.

Hiller, Bladensburg, Md, assignors to Toymaster Products Company, Inc., Clifton, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 88,782 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-126) This invention relates to games of skill and, more particularly, to a simply and sturdily constructed inexpensive game board.

In many games of skill, the object of the game is to move a playing piece, such as a ball, puck or the like, to a given position or into a pocket. .Such games include, for example, pool, billiards, shuflleboard, caroms,

and the like. All of these games, as well as many others of like nature, require a rather expensive and bulky playing surface such as a special table, a special gameboard, a special alley, or the like, and the games are not readily portable or adapted for easy transport.

The present invention is directed to a game board or apparatus in which balls, rolling down a ramp at one end of a playing surface, are directed toward a puck to strike the same and move it beneath the opponents ramp at the opposite end of the playing surface. When the puck has been moved beneath the lower edge of an opponents ramp, a goal is scored.

The playing surface support comprises a rectangular and elongated tray of chipboard, corrugated board, or similar light-weight and inexpensive material having an upright rim or flange along its four sides. The playing surface itself is a sheet of preferably the same material as its support and a length equal to or preferably slightly greater than the inside length of its support. This playing surface sheet is bent at its middle to form a shallow inverted V sloping from the center to each end.

The ramps comprise sheets of corrugated board each cut and folded to provide a pair of triangular sides joined by a central ramp. The sides are folded perpendicularly to the central ramp and are arranged to have edges resting on the tray and supporting the central ramp surface in a position sloping sharply toward the center of the tray, with the lower edge of the ramp surface disposed above the playing surface. The triangular sides have metal clips fixed therein arranged to releasably grip the side flanges of the tray.

The game apparatus may be readily disassembled by removing and folding flat the ramps, which may then be stored in the tray. Wood balls or marbles are used as the puck striking means, and the puck may be made of any suitable material such as a relatively light wood.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of game apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the ramps before erection; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the game apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the tray 10, supporting the playing surface, has an elongated rectangular base 15 arranged to rest on any suitable support surface such as a table top. Base is bounded on its four sides by an upright flange 12 substantially normal thereto. As stated, tray 10 may be formed from a sheet of suitable lightweight material such as chipboard or corrugated board.

The playing surface 15 comprises a rectangular sheet of the same material as tray 10 and having a width equal ice to the inner width of the tray and a length equal to or slightly greater than the inner length of the tray. As best seen in FIG. 3, sheet 15 is bent about a ridge or transverse centerline 16 into a shallow inverted V, so that the playing surface slopes downwardly from its center to each end.

The ramps 20 are disposed at each end of the playing surface. Referring to FIG. 2, each ramp is cut from a sheet of corruated board to provide a central ramp section 21, substantially rectangular in plan, joined at fold lines 22 to truncated triangular end or side sections 23. Each truncated triangular end section includes, in addition to the side along a fold line 22, sides 24, 26 and 27. Side 24 has a rectangular notch 28 arranged to conformingly fit a flange \12 of tray 10, and side 27 has a length equal to the inside height of flange 12.

Side sections 23 are folded about lines 22 to erect the ramps 20. The ramps are then positioned with edges;

or sides 26 resting on base 11 and notches 28 engaging flange 12. Playing surface sheet -15 has rectangular notches 17 at each end of its longer sides to engage the short sides 27 of the ramp side or end sections. It will be noted that the lower edges oframp sections 21 are spaced above surface 15 by a distance of the order of the height of flanges 12. Metal clips 25 are secured to each side section 26 and arranged to engage over flange 12 when the associated ramp is erected and positioned on tray 10.

The game is played using a puck 30 and balls or marbles 35. Puck 30 is placed at the center of surface 15 and each player takes turns rolling a ball 35 down his ramp 20 to strike puck 30 to move it toward the opponents ramp. When the puck 30 is secured beneath an opponents ramp, a goal is scored and the play is repeated.

However, the game can be made much faster and more interesting if the players do not take turns but roll simultaneously, or at random, or however they wish. An important strategem of the game is for a player to get his opponent to roll him most or all of his balls or marbles.

The average playing time of the game, as well as other characteristics thereof, can be controlled by selecting the ratio of puck mass to ball mass in relation to the friction of the playing surface.

To pack the game, ramps 20 are removed, unfolded substantially flat, and laid in tray 10. Due to the lightweight materials, a light, easily portable, self-contained package is provided, in which playing sheet 15 may be used as a cover for tray :10.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. Game apparatus comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular sheet forming a playing surface sloping downwardly from its center to each end to form a shallow inverted V in side elevation; a pair of ramps at each end of said playing surface, extending transversely thereof and sloping relatively steeply downwardly and inwardly; means supporting each ramp with its inner and lower edge spaced above said surface; a puck movable over said surface; and balls for rolling down said ramps to strike the puck to move it toward an opposite ramp.

2. Game apparatus as calimed in claim 1 in which said sheet and said ramp are formed of lightweight composition material.

3. Game apparatus comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular and relatively elongated support tray including a base bounded by an upright flange; a

substantially rectangular sheet forming a playing surface sloping downwardly from its center to each end to form a shallow inverted V in side elevation, said sheet being set within said tray; a pair of ramps at each end of said playing surface, extending transversely thereof and sloping relatively steeply downwardly and inwardly; means supporting each ramp on said tray with its inner and lower edge spaced above said surface; a puck movable over said surface; and balls for rolling down said ramps to strike the puck to move it toward an opposite ram v 4. Gan-le apparatus comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular and relatively elongated support tray including a base bounded by an upright flange; a substantially rectangular sheet forming a playing surface sloping downwardly from its center to eachtend to form a shallow inverted V in side elevation, said sheet being set within said tray; a pair of ramps at each end of said playing surface, extending transversely thereof and sloping relatively steeply downwardly and inwardly; means supporting each ramp on said tray with its inner and lower edge spaced above said surface a distance of the order of the height of said flange; a puck movable over said surface; and balls for rolling down said ramps to strike the puck to move it toward an opposite ramp.

5. Game apparatus comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular and relatively elongated support tray including a base bounded by an upright flange; a subs'tantially rectangular sheet forming a playing surface sloping downwardly from its center to each end to form a shallow inverted V in side elevation, said sheet being set within said tray; a pair of ramps at each end of said playing surface, each ramp including a substantially rectangular central section extending transversely of said surface and sloping relatively steeply downwardly and inwardly, the central section being joined by fold lines to a pair of truncated triangular end sections each including a relatively long side arranged to seat on the tray base to support the ramp; a puck movable over said surface; and balls for rolling down said ramps to strike the puck to move it toward an opposite ramp.

6. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which each end section has a second relatively long side arranged to extend perpendicularly to the tray base and notched to seat over the tray flange.

7. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said ramps are formed of lightweight composition material.

8. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including clips on each end section arranged to releasably grip the tray flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,519,379 Keiner Dec. 16, 1924 2,218,375 Axelrod Oct. 15, 1940 2,463,909 Ruch Mar. 8, 1949 2,678,215 Peterson et a1. May 11, 1954 

